Dual mode input device

ABSTRACT

A dual mode input device, e.g. an optical mouse, is capable of performing data input function by moving the input device. Alternatively, the dual mode input device can also be an optical trackball. By turning the dual mode input device upside down, a trackball can be mounted to or exposed from the bottom surface to perform data input function by manipulating the trackball so that no movement of the input device is required.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/666,606 filed Sep. 17, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,160.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an input device and more particularlyto a dual mode input device functioning as either an optical mouse or anoptical trackball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional optical mouse, which inputs data either via radiofrequency (RF) or via cable, is illustrated as FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIGS. 1Aand 1B show the top and bottom perspective views of the conventionaloptical mouse 10. The optical mouse 10 includes an upper housing 11, alower housing 12 and a roller 13. A photo-sensor window 121 is providedin the lower housing 12. A photo-sensor circuit (not shown) isaccommodated in the space formed by the combination of the upper and thelower housings 11 and 12 at a position near the photo-sensor window 121.When the optical mouse 10 is placed on a certain plane, the photo-sensorcircuit detects the texture variation of the certain plane, andgenerates a cursor indication signal accordingly.

In practice, however, it is sometimes difficult to find a suitable planefor placing and operating the optical mouse. For example, presentationwork particularly suffers from such problem. Therefore, it is preferredthat an alternative operation mode requiring no working plane can beprovided to solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dual modeinput device capable of performing data input function by moving theinput device, or performing data input function by manipulating anelement without movement of the input device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a dual mode inputdevice performs data input function by a moving action in a first mode,and performs data input function by a manipulating operation on an inputelement in a second mode. The input device comprises a main body havinga sensor window on a surface thereof, the sensor window moving relativeto a plane to perform data input function in the first mode; and asupporting member arranged on the surface of the main body foraccommodating therein the input element, the input element movingrelative to the sensor window to perform data input function in thesecond mode.

Preferably, the supporting member is detachably arranged on the surfaceof the main body and disposed over the sensor window in the second mode.

In one embodiment, the supporting member is separable from the main bodyin the first mode, and secured onto the surface of the main body in thesecond mode. Preferably, the dual mode input device further comprises asecuring member for securing the supporting member onto the surface ofthe main body.

In one embodiment, the securing member comprises a plurality ofpositioning holes arranged on the surface of the main body around thesensor window; and a plurality of pins coupled to the supporting memberand having positions corresponding to the plurality of positioningholes, respectively, the plurality of pins being inserted into theplurality of positioning holes to secure the supporting member onto thesurface of the main body over the sensor window in the second mode. Theplurality of pins can be integrally formed with the supporting member.

Preferably, the supporting member substantially has a hollowsemi-spherical shape.

In one embodiment, the securing member is a sucker disc coupled to thesupporting member, and attached onto the surface of the main body by asucking force so as to secure the supporting member onto the surface ofthe main body over the sensor window in the second mode. Preferably, thesucker disc is transparent and coupled to the supporting member to serveas a bottom surface of the supporting member. The sucker disc can beintegrally formed with the supporting member.

Preferably, the supporting member substantially has a hollow cylindricalshape.

In one embodiment, the supporting member is pivotally connected to thesurface of the main body, and pivoted to hide inside the main body inthe first mode and sit over the sensor window in the second mode.

Preferably, the main body has a space therein, the supporting memberincludes a first portion for accommodating therein the input element,and a second portion pivotally secured to the surface and connected tothe first portion for moving the first portion between a first positionover the sensor window and a second position inside the space, therebyswitching data input function between the second and the first mode,respectively. The first and the second portions of the supporting membercan be integrally formed.

Preferably, the first and the second portions are configured to have asurface of the first portion at the first position substantiallyparallel to the surface of the main body, and have the first portion atthe second position substantially completely hidden inside the space.

Preferably, the main body comprises a lid covering the opening of thespace to prevent the first portion at the second position from escapingfrom the opening.

Preferably, the input element is a trackball, and the first portionincludes a ring for receiving the trackball therein.

Preferably, the first portion includes a plurality of posts connected tothe ring for supporting the trackball to sit over the sensor window.

Preferably, the input element is hidden inside the main body along withthe supporting member in the first mode.

The input device, for example, is an optical mouse in the first mode andan optical trackball in the second mode.

If the input element is a trackball, it is rotated to move relative tothe sensor window to perform a data input function in the second mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may best be understood through the followingdescription with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a top and a bottom perspective views of a typicaloptical mouse shown schematically;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a partially resolving and an assembling diagramsschematically showing the bottom perspective view of a dual mode inputdevice according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a resolving diagram schematically showing the bottomperspective view of a dual mode input device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of a dual mode input device according toa second embodiment of the present invention, schematically showing theswitching operation between two data input modes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described more specifically withreference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that thefollowing descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention arepresented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it isnot intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise formdisclosed.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a first embodiment of a dual mode inputdevice according to the present invention is disclosed. The dual modeinput device is capable of performing a data input function by movingthe input device like an optical mouse, or performing a data inputfunction by manipulating an element without movement of the inputdevice, like an optical trackball. The dual mode input device comprisesa main body 20 for accommodating therein a photo-sensor circuit (notshown), a supporting member 26 for receiving therein the input elementsuch as a trackball, and a securing member 27 for securing thesupporting member 26 to the main body 20.

The main body 20 consists of an upper housing 21 and a lower housing 22and has a photo-sensor window 221 on the lower housing for 22 forexposing the photo-sensor circuit. When the input device is placed on acertain plane (not shown) with the lower housing 22 in contact with thecertain plane, the photo-sensor circuit detects the texture variation ofthe certain plane, and generates a cursor indication signal accordingly.On the other hand, when the input device is to perform data inputfunction without moving the main body 20, the main body 20 is turnedupside down, i.e. the lower housing 22 is oriented upwards to beaccessible by the user. Meanwhile, the photo-sensor window 221 isoriented upwards to expose the photo-sensor circuit. By attaching thesupporting member 26 onto the facing-up lower housing 22 via thesecuring member 27, and having the input element 25 received by thesupporting member 26 disposed over and moved relative to thephoto-sensor window 221, the photo-sensor circuit detects the change oftexture of the input element to perform data input function.

In this embodiment, the input element 25 is exemplified as a trackball.Therefore, the supporting member 26 preferably has a smooth and concaveinner surface for allowing the trackball 25 resting thereon to smoothlyrotate. The supporting member 26, for example, has a hollowsemi-spherical shape. A plurality of pins 272 are provided around thesupporting member 26 by for example integral formation. The pins 272 areinserted into a plurality of corresponding positioning holes 271arranged around the photo-sensor window 221 to form the securing member27 to secure the supporting member 26 onto the lower housing 22. Bymanipulating the trackball 25 in the supporting member 26 to rotate, thephoto-sensor circuit will detect the texture change of the trackball 25,thereby providing a cursor indication signal and achieving the purposeof data input. Of course, when the optical mouse mode is to be performedagain, the pins 272 and the supporting member 26 with the trackball 25are detached from the positioning holes 271, and the main body 20 isreturned to its original condition, i.e. the lower housing 22 is turnedto face down.

Another embodiment of the dual mode input device according to thepresent invention will be illustrated hereinafter with reference to FIG.3. In this embodiment, the dual mode input device is similar to that ofFIGS. 2A and 2B except that the supporting member 45 has a hollowcylinder-like shape and the securing member 43 is a transparent suckerdisc arranged as the bottom surface of the hollow cylinder-likesupporting member 45. Via a sucking force of the sucker disc 43, thesupporting member 45 can be attached onto the lower housing 42 over thephoto-sensor window 421 when the optical trackball mode is to beperformed. The input element such as the trackball 44 is then placed inthe supporting member 45 to be manipulated. The hollow cylinder-likesupporting member 45, for example, can be integrally formed with thesucker disc 43.

Further referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a third embodiment of the dualmode input device according to the present invention is illustrated. Anoptical mouse mode and an optical trackball mode are also given as anexample to describe the dual mode input device according to the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the dual mode input device comprises amain body 30 for accommodating therein a photo-sensor circuit 33, and asupporting member 34 for receiving therein the input element such as atrackball 35.

The main body 30 consists of an upper housing 31 and a lower housing 32and has a photo-sensor window 321 on the lower housing 32 for exposingthe photo-sensor circuit 33. When the input device is placed on acertain plane (not shown) with the lower housing 32 in contact with thecertain plane, the photo-sensor circuit 33 detects the texture variationof the certain plane, and generates a cursor indication signalaccordingly. On the other hand, when the input device is to perform datainput function without moving the main body 30, the main body 30 isturned upside down, i.e. the lower housing 32 is oriented upwards to beaccessible by the user. Meanwhile, the photo-sensor window 321 isoriented upwards to expose the photo-sensor circuit 33. By attaching thesupporting member 34 onto the facing-up lower housing 32, and having thetrackball 35 received by the supporting member 34 disposed over andmoved relative to the photo-sensor window 321, the photo-sensor circuit33 detects the change of texture of the trackball 35 to perform the datainput function.

The supporting member 34 in this embodiment is configured to allow thetrackball 35 to rest thereon and smoothly rotate. The supporting member34 can be hidden inside the main body 30 when the optical mouse mode isin use, as shown in FIG. 4A, and disposed over the optical-sensor window321 when the optical trackball mode is in use, as shown in FIG. 4B. Thetrackball 35 can be hidden inside the space 322 between the upperhousing 31 and the lower housing 32 along with the supporting member 34.Alternatively, the trackball 35 can be put in the supporting member 34only when it is to be used. In order to achieve the purpose of easyswitching between two modes, the supporting member 34 is pivotallyconnected to the lower housing 32 about a fulcrum 340. In the opticaltrackball mode, the supporting member 34 is pivoted from the space 322to the position on the lower housing 32 over the optical sensor window321. By manipulating the trackball 35 in the supporting member 34 torotate, the photo-sensor circuit 33 will detect the texture change ofthe trackball 35, thereby providing a cursor indication signal andachieving the purpose of data input. Of course, when the optical mousemode is to be performed, the supporting member 34 is pivoted from theposition on the lower housing 32 to the position in the space 322 withor without the trackball detached from the supporting member 34.Further, the main body 30 is returned to its original condition, i.e.the lower housing 32 is turned to face down.

The supporting member 34 includes a first arm portion 341 connected tothe pivot fulcrum 340 and a second arm portion 342 coupled to the firstarm portion 341. The second arm portion 342 preferably has a ring shapefor receiving therein the trackball 35, and is arranged therearound aplurality of posts 343 for facilitating the ring 342 to stably sit overthe optical-sensor window 321. The portions 341 and 342 and the posts343 can be integrally formed. More preferably, a lid 36 is used to coverthe opening 323 of the space 322 in order that the supporting member 34and the trackball 35 will not drop out of the space 322 from the opening323. The first and the second arm portions 341 and 342 are preferablyconfigured to have the second arm portion, i.e. the ring 342, sittingover the optical-sensor window 321 substantially parallel to the lowerhousing face in the optical trackball mode, and have the ring 342substantially completely hidden in the space 322 in the optical mousemode.

From the above description, it is understood that two data input modescan be optionally performed by the presence of the supporting member andsecuring member. The assembling and operation of the supporting memberis easy so that it is convenient to switch data input modes according topractical needs.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

1. A dual mode input device for performing a data input function by amoving action in a first mode, and performing the data input function bya manipulating operation on an input element in a second mode,comprising: a main body having a sensor window at a surface thereof,said sensor window being movable relative to a plane to perform the datainput function in said first mode; and a supporting member configuredfor placement at said surface of said main body to accommodate thereinsaid input element, wherein said input element is configured to rotateto perform the data input function in said second mode, and thesupporting member is configured to move relative to the main body. 2.The dual mode input device according to claim 1 wherein said supportingmember is detachably arranged on said surface of said main body anddisposed over said sensor window in said second mode.
 3. The dual modeinput device according to claim 2 further comprising a securing memberfor securing said supporting member onto said surface of said main body.4. The dual mode input device according to claim 3 wherein said securingmember comprises: a plurality of positioning holes arranged on saidsurface of said main body around said sensor window; and a plurality ofpins coupled to said supporting member and having positionscorresponding to said plurality of positioning holes, respectively, saidplurality of pins being inserted into said plurality of positioningholes to secure said supporting member onto said surface of said mainbody over said sensor window in said second mode.
 5. The dual mode inputdevice according to claim 3 wherein said securing member is a suckerdisc coupled to said supporting member, and attached onto said surfaceof said main body by a sucking force so as to secure said supportingmember onto said surface of said main body over said sensor window insaid second mode.
 6. The dual mode input device according to claim 1,wherein said main body has a space therein, said supporting memberincludes a first portion for accommodating therein said input element,and a second portion pivotally secured to said surface and connected tosaid first portion for moving said first portion between a firstposition over said sensor window and a second position inside saidspace, thereby switching data input function between said second andsaid first mode, respectively.
 7. The dual mode input device accordingto claim 6 wherein said input element is a trackball, and said firstportion includes a ring for receiving said trackball therein.
 8. Thedual mode input device according to claim 7 wherein said first portionincludes a plurality of posts connected to said ring for supporting saidtrackball to sit over said sensor window.
 9. The dual mode input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said input element is hidden inside saidmain body along with said supporting member in said first mode.
 10. Thedual mode input device according to claim 1 wherein said input device isan optical mouse in said first mode and an optical trackball in saidsecond mode.
 11. The dual mode input device according to claim 10wherein said input element is a trackball and rotated to move relativeto said sensor window to perform the data input function in said secondmode.
 12. A method for changing a configuration of a dual mode inputdevice from a first mode to a second mode, comprising: coupling an inputelement to a supporting member; and moving the supporting member from afirst position to a second position, wherein when the supporting memberis in the second position the supporting member is positioned over asensor window disposed on a surface of a main body of the dual modeinput device, and a position of the supporting member relative to thesensor window is different when the supporting member is in the secondposition than when the supporting member is in the first position. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising performing a data inputfunction in the first mode by moving the sensor window relative to aplane.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising performing a datainput function in the second mode by moving the input element relativeto the sensor window.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:securing the supporting member onto the surface of the main body whilethe supporting member is in the second position.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein securing the supporting member comprises: inserting aplurality of pins coupled to the supporting member into a plurality ofpositioning holes arranged on the surface of the main body around thesensor window.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein securing thesupporting member comprises: coupling a sucker disc to the supportingmember; and attaching by a sucking force the sucker disc onto thesurface of the main body over the sensor window.
 18. The method of claim12, further comprising: pivotally connecting the supporting membercapable of accommodating therein the input element to the surface of themain body while the supporting member is in the second position.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising: pivoting the supporting memberto hide the input element inside the main body in the first mode; andpivoting the supporting member to position the input element over thesensor window in the second mode.
 20. A dual mode input device,comprising: means for enabling a user to perform a data input functionin a first mode by moving relative to a plane a sensor window disposedon a surface of a main body of the dual mode input device; and means forenabling the user to perform the data input function in a second mode byrotating an input element relative to the sensor window.
 21. The dualmode input device of claim 20, further comprising: means for arrangingthe input element on the surface of the main body and disposed over thesensor window.
 22. The dual mode input device of claim 21, wherein themeans for arranging the input element is separable from the main body inthe first mode, and secured on the surface of the main body in thesecond mode.
 23. The dual mode input device of claim 20, furthercomprising: means for securing the input element onto the surface of themain body.
 24. The dual mode input device of claim 23, wherein the meansfor securing the input element comprises: means for hiding the inputelement inside the main body in the first mode; and means forpositioning the input element over the sensor window in the second mode.25. A method for operating a dual mode input device comprising: moving asensor window disposed on a surface of a main body of a dual mode inputdevice relative to a plane to perform a data input function in a firstmode; arranging a supporting member proximate the sensor window, thesupporting member accommodating an input element and being configured tomove relative to the sensor window; and rotating the input element toperform the data input function in a second mode.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, further comprising securing the supporting member to thesurface of the main body, wherein securing the supporting member to thesurface of the main body includes: inserting a plurality of pins coupledto the supporting member into a plurality of positioning holes arrangedon the surface of the main body; or attaching a sucker disc included inthe supporting member to the surface of the main body by a suckingforce.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the supporting member ispivotally connected to the main body, the method further comprising:pivoting the supporting member to hide the input element inside a spaceformed in the main body for operation in the first mode; and pivotingthe supporting member to position the input element over the sensorwindow for operation in the second mode.
 28. The method of claim 25,further comprising placing the input element in the supporting memberprior to moving the input element relative to the sensor window.